Hi there,
Im trying to install linux to a dedicated server I have with 1and1. They provide a rescue tool so that has a basic version of linux on it with some tools. This can see the drives on my server. I can mount the drive and, cfdisk than format it. The question is how do I manually install Slackware on this. Basically what I am trying to do is install linux on a mounted drive using linux. Like if you were to temporarily add a second drive to your linux computer and install linux on to it using your linux on that computer. I know with slackware I have to find a way to unpack all the packages on to this drive and set up the bootstrap including lilo. Does anyone have any ideas where I can get information how to do this? I have been searching all night with no luck.

Thanks
MarleyGPN

Do you mean using the loop device to use and install an ISO file from within another linux already installed?

If so then try this, but you would need to have the loop device added in the kernel. I think newer distros already have it included.

mount -t iso9660 /tmp/slack102.iso /mnt/slack102 -o loop

You will have to created your device node, /mnt/newmountpoint. Once mounted you will be able to view the files like any other mounted drive. But I'm not sure how you use it to install using it.

Hope this helps anyway.

Hi there I got the iso mounted. I also figured out where the disc boots from there was a file called initrd.img which i managed to mount. from there I have all the folders as if I were to boot from the cd. for example bin lib etc its all there. The problem is I dont know what do do from here. If you have any ideas please let me know

Thanks,
MarleyGPN

Is there anyway to load initrd so I can install slackware. I can't get chroot to work on the directry I extracted it in to.

Maybe first loop mount the install rootdisk, copy the entire directory tree within it to a new directory (let's call it fakeroot), then mount the install-iso to the fakeroot's mnt sub directory, chroot into fakeroot, tell the setup program to install from the pre-mounted directory, then install slackware as usual.

install root disk

I tried that, when I try to chroot I get this

i: applet not found

I tried finding a solution for this but havent found one yet.

Fixed the problem with the chroot. Im going to try your suggestions again. By the way are you sure its just one of the root disks and not both?

I think this needs access to /proc how do I link that with the chroot?

It does need /proc for it to work

I tried may ways of linking them.

Do you have any ideas?

Thanks,
MarleyGPN

To get /proc, you must mount a filesystem of type procfs in a directory you have created. I believe that you must be root on the host system to do that.

I suggest that you review the installation guides of distributions like Linux from Scratch and Gentoo for specific examples of this sort of procedure...

Hi there,

I got it working yesterday. I will post the procedure once I get it organized.

Thanks for your help.


MarleyGPN